Landon Schaefer Leatherwood
August 11th, 2002 - May 29th, 2003
I rubbed my sleepy eyes....it was still dark outside and Keenan was still asleep. Eventually he began to stir and without even needing the alarm to go off, we both JOYFULLY slid out of bed. We laughed at each other's funny "bed-head" hair-do's and continued to get ready for this special day. We tried not to wake my cousin who had come into town just for this occasion and was sleeping on the couch. We were also mindful that our only daughter, Landry, was also trying to catch a few ZZzz's. We left the house as quietly as we could, even though we were still laughing at the spectacle we made of ourselves half an hour ago.
Six months prior to this day I had gone in for a routine sonogram only to be told that my unborn baby had a horrifying and sometimes fatal disease called alobar holoprosencephaly. I know.... The name alone left me speechless, as well. However what followed after the diagnosis was even more frightening. The doctors and genetic counselors actually DESCRIBED the disease to us. Abdominal wall defects ( intestines rowing on outside of his body, facial abnormalities, not surviving a full term pregnancy, ...you get the idea. The prognosis was not positive at ALL. In fact, they relentlessly encouraged us to pursue abortion at all costs. In their words, we: "Did not know what(we) were getting oursleves into". NO, we did not, BUT GOD DID! Twenty-four hours later, on August 11th, 2002 - I heard a soft-spoken nurse gasp & say - "Ohhhh He's Beautiful !".... Then the doctor who delivered him exclaimed: "Oh my gosh, he's HUGE!!!" ( He DID weigh 11 lbs 12ozs. /measuring 23 & 1/2 inches) And a polite nurse beside me inquired: "How'd you DO that?!" ( Nothing a simple C-Section won't help...) I was so anxious to see him, but at the same time almost afraid to see if he was, indeed, alright. So, I asked my sweet husband, Keenan - " Is he....alright?" His tearful response was, "perfect." And, more than we knew, he was. The first glimpse I got of him. he was being cradled and rocked gently by his neonatologist and being the angelic miracle we had prayed for. No tubes, no ventilators, no rushing around to resuscitate him, as was previously planned for. Just 11 & 1/2 pounds of miracle.
The nine & a half months that I was privileged enough to be able to caress, feed, console, and care for Landon were some of the most precious moments I will ever get to have on this earth. So, why do I celebrate August 10th? It's the day a miracle came to live with us. - And reminded us that God is GREAT, even when the circumstances are NOT.
Why we remain grateful for this day is that OUR GOD does not rely on our feelings, the doctor's report, or what other people think, or say. OUR GOD is faithful and does not waiver at ANY time, especially in adversity. We also believe that we, as Christians should take it as a COMPLIMENT when we are faced with trials and tribulations, for it means we must be doing SOMETHING to make the enemy QUAKE in his little black boots ( I am not sure they are black, but work with me...!)
We are also grateful for the nine & half months that God loaned us Landon Schaefer Leatherwood. You see, it is also our belief that we do not own our children - but GOD. He only allows us to be GOOD STEWARDS of these little pieces of HIM. For HOWEVER long that may be.
Thank you, Lord for giving us the privilege of being Landon's family. We are honored. Happy 6th Birthday, Bubba! We love and miss you, 'till Heaven!
Mama, Daddy, Sissy & "Baby Bubba" ( Lawson )
